Indicators



June 26, 1956 w. E. DANJCZEK 2,751,700

INDICATORS Filed Nov. 4. 1953 F/Li4.

WWII" 25 24 Y /0 1 E l) 46 m UT J3 (A N I 36 w 0 \l 1 w I 25 INVENTORATTORNEY 2,751,700 INDICATORS William E. Danjczek, Easton, Pa., assignorto L. & C. Hardtmuth, Inc., Bloomsbury, N. J., a corporation of NewJersey Application November 4, 1953, Serial No. 390,208 2 Claims. (Cl.4068) This invention relates broadly to adjustable indicators, andparticularly pertains to an instrument for denoting the characteristicsof a writing stylus placed within a writing implement, such as a lead orcrayon holder, and wherein the characteristics of the stylus, especiallyits degree of hardness or color cannot be determined while within theimplement. Specifically this invention relates to a lead or crayonindicator for a mechanical holder adapted to accommodate such leads orcrayons of diiferent hardness or color, and wherein the release of theleads from the holder to their writing position is efliected by eitherpressing a button or turning a part of the holder, and wherein theindicator forms a part of or is integral with such button or turningpart.

The prime object of this invention therefore is the provision of anadjustable indicator for designating the charaoteristics of the lead orcrayon carried at one time within a writing implement, and wherein theindicator forms a part of the device for releasing the lead or crayon toits writing position.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a lead or crayonindicator for holders, and wherein said indicator is composed of severalcooperating elements which are adapted to revolve in respect to oneanother, one of the elements constituting an outer member housing atleast two rotatable inner members, and-wherein these inner members carryindices for denoting, when set at desired position, the characteristicsof the lead or crayon within the holder, and wherein the outer member isprovided with a viewing aperture which facilitates the reading of onlythe selected indices.

A more specific object of the present disclosure is a lead or crayonindicator which forms a part of an operating button for a holder, andwherein a substantially hollow cylindrical outer member is employedwithin which are movable at least two inner members each of which carrya row of indices, and wherein one of the inner members constituteseither an integral part or an.

extension of the button, whereas the other inner member is substantiallycup-shaped, and wherein both inner members are provided with recessedsurfaces upon which the indices are located, and wherein the 'outermember is provided with an aperature for viewing selected indices ofboth inner members, and wherein all of the members are connected by ascrew, and wherein the head of the screw holds down an expansion springnested in the cup-- shaped inner member, whereby that latter member iscaused to exert pressure against the outer member, said spring alsoholding all the members under tension, thereby preventing inadvertentdisplacement of the members relative to one, another.

The foregoing and numerous other objects and advantages of the presentinvention will become more fully apparent from the ensuing descriptionin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which latter, althoughforming an essential part of the present disclosure, are by no meansintended to restrict the same to the actual structures shown, but ratherare intended to serve for explanatory purposes, and wherein:

Fig. l is a plan view of a lead holder equipped with an indicatoraccording to this invention;

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the indicator construction in one of itsforms;

"nited States Patent ice Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section throughthe assembled indicator as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top view of the indicator;

Fig. 5 shows a modified form of the indicator;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section therethrough;

Fig. 7 shows a section through a modified form of the outer memberforming a part of the indicator; and

Fig. 8 are plan views of strips carrying indices employed in theindicator.

The illustration shown in Fig. 1 denotes a simple lead holder composedof a barrel 10, a nose piece 11 and a collet 12, the latter beingadapted to engage and hold a lead released from the holder to itswriting position. At the upper end of the barrel there is a depressiblebutton .13 which is adapted, when depressed, to move collet 12 inoutward direction to its lead-releasing position. The button is normallyurged by a spring, not shown, to the position illustrated. When thebutton is first depressed and then released, collet 12 will grip thelead and hold it.

Button 13 supports as an integral part thereof a lead indicator 14,shown in greater details in Figs. 2 and 3. The button is removablyattached at one end of lead holding tube 15 (Fig. 2), while with theother end of the tube collet 12 is removably associated. The body ofbutton 13 is recessed at 16 to form a ledge and adjacent to the ledgethere is provided another recess or reduction 17 upon which are eitherdirectly marked or to which are otherwise applied indices or colordesignations carried upon strips, such as shown, for example, in Fig. 8.The button body and its portion including ledge 16 and reduction 17 maybe considered as one of the inner elements of the indicator denotedgenerally at 18. Ledge 16 is adapted to operatively support and guide anouter member 19 which comprises a hollow cylinder provided with aviewing opening 20. Y

A second inner member 21 of the indicator comprises a substantiallycup-shaped structure having an end flange 22, which is preferably largerin diameter than cylinder 19. Adjacent to flange 22 there is provided aledge 23, similar to ledge 16 of the first-mentioned inner member, andadjacent to ledge 23 is abody reduction 24, similar to reduction 17.Reduction 24 again carries indices which are either applied directly toits outer surface or which are borne by one of the strips shown in Fig.8 at 25 and 26.

At the bottom of cup-shaped member 21 is a central aperture 27. Withinmember 21 there will be observed a spring 28 bearing with one of itsends against the bottom of member 21, while its other end engages head29 of a screw 30, which latter is adapted to connect all three membersof the indicator. Just below head 29 of the screw is a cylindricalportion 31 which rests against the upper face of inner member 18.Threaded portion 32 of the screw engages a correspondingly threaded hole33 within button body 13.

The modified form of the device illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 is intendedto form a part of a fixed end 34 of lead holder 35 provided with alead-clutching nose piece, not shown in the drawings. Fixed end 34 isprovided with a central bore 36 which is internally threaded to receivethreaded end 37 of screw 38. In this modified form there are againemployed two inner members, one denoted at 39, which may be consideredas a continuation of end 34, and may even form a part thereof, althoughin the illustration this member is shown as a separate unit. The otherinner member 40 is very similar to member 21 in that it is cup-shapedand is provided at one end with a flange 41 and has two body reductions42 and 43, similar to recessed portions 23 and 24, respectively, ofmember 21. Inner member 39 is also reduced first at 44 and again at 45.Recessed portions 43 and 45 of the respective inner members are againprovided with indices-bearing strips 25 and 26 shown in detail in Fig.8. Inner member 39 is preferably offset at what may be considered itsouter end to provide a reduced central portion 46 which has a clearancehole 47 for the reception of threaded portion 37 of screw 23. The headof the screw again holds down a spring 48 disposed within the cup-shapedinterior of inner member 40.

The provision of reduced end portion 46 of inner member 39 causes theformation of a recess 49, the purpose of which will become presentlyevident.

The shape of the outer member 50 in Fig. 6 is somewhat modified, butagain constitutes a substantially hollow cylindrical structure having anelongated view opening 50'. Additionally, the cylinder is provided witha centrally perforated bottom 51 which extends into recess 49 andoperates about reduced central portion 46 of member 39. Forming anoutward extension of bottom 51 is a flange 52 by means of which cylinder50 can be rotated. The smooth cylindrical portion 53 of screw 38 bearswith its lower end against inner member 39 and holds the latter againstrotation.

In Fig. 7 there is shown a modified form of an outer member 55 similarto member 59 seen in Fig. 6. This modified outer member has a centrallyrecessed bottom 56 and a view opening 57, but does not possess anoperating flange. Nevertheless, it can be used in place of cylinder 50in arrangements similar to that shown in Fig. 6.

Operation In Fig. 8 are indicated three indices-bearing strips 25, 26and 54. Strip 26 carries indices H, 2, 3, 4, and 6, while strip hasindices H, B. F, 7, 8 and 9. For leads of different degrees of hardnessthe two strips 25 and 26 are applicable, On strip 54 are shown dotsdenoting different colors; that strip can be applied to either of thetwo inner members of the indicator as shown in Figs. 3 and 6, or can becarried by a separate third inner member, not shown.

When it is intended to designate a certain hardness of lead held withinholder 10, the body of button 13 in Fig. 3 or the fixed end 34 of Fig. 6of the holder are held, while cylinders 19, 50 are rotated until theirrespective viewing openings 21 50 expose the desired digit borne byinner members 18, 39. Now the cylinders and members 13, 39 are heldtogether against turning, and members 21, 40 are rotated until thedesired index on these members appears in the viewing opening. Expansionsprings 28, 48 within the cup-shaped inner members hold all threemembers in their set adjustment and prevent their accidentaldisplacement.

Referring again to Fig. 8, the index strips 25 and 26 disclose sixdigits and a blank space adjacent the letter H. The space on strip 26 isrequired to permit the adjustment of the indicator to show only one ofthe letters H, B or F. By the use of the two strips 25 and 26 with theirrespective six digits it is possible to effect seventeen different digitcombinations denoting various hardness degrees or grades of leads. Thuswhen a holder capable of accommodating difierent leads or crayons isprovided with the present indicator, a considerable saving is effectedin that one such indicator-equipped holder replaces a substantial numberof individual holders bearing imprints denoting the specific leaddegrees they hold.

The two modifications shown in Figs. 1 and 5 disclose indicators forusers holding writing implements in their right hand. By reversing thedirection and changing the position of strips 25 and 26, that is byattaching strip 26 in place of strip 25 and strip 25 in place of strip26, the indicators can advantageously serve left-handed users. Byaltering the arrangement of the digits on the strips, a great number ofvariations in lead indicating combinations may be effected.

In each of the two presented modifications it is to be specificallynoted that all of the three parts of the indicators, that is the twoinner members and the outer cylindrical member, are movable relative toone another, .and that when one inner member and the cylinder are heldtil) together against rotation, the second inner member can be adjustedin respect to the two held-together members.

In the foregoing description only two specific forms of the presentinvention are dealt with. This applies particularly to the use of onlythree relatively movable indicator members and to the specificarrangement of the indices-bearing strips. It is quite obvious thatthere may be employed more than three relatively movable indicatormembers and that the arrangement of the indices 0n the strips may bechanged. Thus, for instance, one of the strips may be equipped withdouble designations, such as H8 or 7B placed, for example, into theempty space above the letter H on strip 25. By the same token otherletter and number combinations may be substituted for those shown inFig. 8.

When it is desired to provide an indicator for holders which will notonly accommodate leads of different degrees of hardness but also crayonsof different colors, the indicator can be equipped either with a fourthmember bearing the color indications, or one of the three members,including the outer cylindrical member, can be equipped with a colorindicator. Such modifications being obvious, they are not shown in thedrawings, but are intended to indicate the possibility of necessarychanges to meet various requirements, such changes being deemed toreside within the scope of the present invention, as defined in theannexed claims.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In an adjustable indicator for lead holders and the like, a pluralityof individually rotatable cooperating elements tensionally biased inrespect to one another, said elements comprising two substantiallycylindrical indicesbearing inner members in abutment with each other atone end, their inner ends and a tubular outer member having a singleviewing aperture extending over the major portions of both innermembers, annular shoulders formed at the outer ends of the inner membersand serving as abutments and for rotatably supporting the ends of theouter member, one of the inner members being cupshaped and having acentral opening at its bottom, the other inner member having a threadedcentral bore, a screw having a head and a shoulder and a threadedportion extending from the shoulder, the head and shoulder of said screwbeing disposed within said cup-shaped member and passing with itsshoulder through the central bottom opening of that member, the threadedscrew portion engaging the bore of the other inner member so that theend of the shoulder abuts with the latter member, a compression springdisposed between the head of the screw and the bottom of the cup-shapedmember, thus holding all three members under constant tension.

2. In an adjustable indicating device, the combination of threerelatively adjustable rotary elements comprising two inner cylindricalelements abutting with one another and one outer tubular element, saidinner elements having adjacent portions of a uniform diameter and doubleshoulder formations of larger diameters at their remote ends, the outerelement engaging and being supported at its ends by said double shoulderformations of the inner elements, one of the inner elements beingcup-shaped and having a central aperture at its bottom, a headed andshouldered screw connecting the elements so that its shoulder passesthrough the aperture of ghe cup-shaped element and forcibly engages withits end the abutting face of the other inner element, a tension springextending between the screw head and the solid bottom portion adjacentthe aperture in said cup-shaped element, whereby all three elements arekept under tension.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS636,593 Vitanolf Nov. 7, 1899 2,339,514 Ponath Jan. 18, 1944 2,575,096Chatelain Nov. 13, 1951

